FRIDAY HULK THREAD: Have you been converted?

[HULK_I6T]

Its Friday!! Theres no better way to take the edge off a hard week at work and get ready for the weekend with a good hulk thread.

My question this week is "have you been converted?"

Many of us grew up with the V8 being the pinnacle of performance, whether it be the 60s, 70s or early 80s, we looked to the V8 as the performance option. Dad had one, the neighbour had one, you loved the smell of fuel and the rumbling sound of the V8.

Then in the mid 90s the little 4 cylinder turbos came onto the scene in a big way, wrx etc. They flogged the V8s of the 90s and people started to look to the turbo charged car as the performance option. Ford also released the hot n/a XR6 which was beating up on their windsor V8 as well. The V8s lost their lustre a little during this period.

The V8s in early 2000 readdressed this situation particularly with the Ls1 which largely changed the face of performance in Australia.. People werent embarrassed to drive V8s again. They shifted the goalposts performance wise in favour of the V8.

Then 2002 ford hit hard with the XR6 Turbo which really did make the holden and ford V8s seem mediocre especially after a few mods. Cars like the F6 and G6ET were subsequently released with amazing performance potential. As great as the LSX motors were or the Boss 5.4 motors, the turbo 6 cars hit them out of the park.

The car industry in general have moved away from big displacement motors for smaller motors + forced induction. V8 cars are becoming rarer and more expensive options.

Ford/FPV did the V8 proud by sticking a supercharger on it with the Miami V8 as a final fling to attempt to readdress the situation again but this time its probably a sideways move from the turbo 6 rather than a step ahead. They are basically on par at the moment.

On a personal level ive gone back n forth between turbo cars and V8s.. It seems when I buy a V8 you miss the rush and pace of the turbo car... when in the turbo car you miss that street presence, emotive feel and rumbling sound of the V8.. I sort of sway back n forth between the two.. Not sure if ive been converted as such but Im not one eyed anymore in favour of the V8s. I dont see myself as a definitive turbo man or a V8 man.

Have you been converted? Is it turbo charged cars or V8s as your weapon of choice?

[The Monty]

Im a convert. Love the turbo, the only thing that would get me into an 8 these days, which Im actually considering, is the 2015 mustang V8, but turbo'd. Will probably end up with one when they start coming off leases.

[DJM83]

Im a turbo convert. I went from falcons last one being a V8 to an XR5T and now ST. Something about a Turbo car that a like.
I honestly think the T6 was the best thing to happen to Ford.

[jmack]

No I still like women

[Poetic Justice]

I don't follow the principal that I've been converted or consider it necessary to lay claim to any allegiance to displacement of engines. I simply assess what my needs are in a future vehicle purchase and make my decision based on value for money and enjoyment offered.

If what I want is serviced by something like a V8 sedan then I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

My last purchase had a budget of around 40k. We wanted something fun, not too big, fast and cool. We bought a limited edition WRX run out which is fun as to drive. It could probably do with a couple of creature comforts over and above what it has standard but from a driving perspective it is amazing!

I was sitting at a car wash waiting for the WRX to be ready yesterday and there was an SSV Wagon also being washed, was grey in colour and had reasonably sized aftermarket wheels and a very loud v8 - I thought it was cool and if when I have kids that suits what I need then that will also be cool.

[Grippy]

I was never embarrassed to drive a V8, Hulk.

[cheap]

more cylinders = more fun

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

Have you been converted? Is it turbo charged cars or V8s as your weapon of choice?

Given that I'm 22, V8s were never on the radar for me for a nice car, rather than V8 roar give me turbos spooling and blow off valves opening.

If I'm gonna own a V8, it wont have spark plugs, it'll have a turbo and she wont rev past 4K

[CoupeKing]

Got my XB coupe (K-code) in 98 when I was on my P-plates. Thought I was cool then, and still think I`m cool now, even though its not on the road.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

I don't really see the 4 cylinder turbo cars as a performance alternative.

[edit=Raptor, lets leave the sexist comments out of your posts thanks]

I have driven a few turbos and have never been impressed.

I remember a mate of mine telling me how devastatingly quick is 'worked' WRX was and one day he convinced me to take it for drive, I took it for a drive and was very unimpressed.

Got him to jump in my 5 speed EL XR8 with a few Herrod enhancements, and he crapped himself, and that XR8 was probably the slowest V8 I have ever owned apart from a 302 auto XB Falcon when I was 17

Drove a BF F6 for around two weeks as a loan car when they first came out and that was nice, I must say I enjoyed the rush, but a week later I went out and bought a Boss 290 powered BF GT, added some Herrod goodness and tune and with around 400rwhp driven through a 6 speed manual with 4.11's I have never thought about a turbo again, especially with the exhaust note that makes me smile from ear to ear every time I hear it to this day.

The only way I have been converted is from small block to big block V8 Life is too short to not be driving a V8

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

Got my XB coupe (K-code) in 98 when I was on my P-plates. Thought I was cool then, and still think I`m cool now, even though its not on the road.

You should change your name to CoupeBaby

I got mine in 86, and is still in my garage today, was cool then and is super cool now

[Ben73]

Yes there is some great performance with smaller engines and turbo. But I still love V8's. Not just the perfromance of them. They sound amazing compared to smaller engines.
If the Rnager came with a V8TD I would of bought that.

[Wretched]

Depends on the V8
I am a convert though. XR8 -> XR5T. Just the rush of a turbo and the torque curve.
Look at what Merc/AMG did with the A45...2.0 Turbo monster.
Focus RS too.

The only V8 (that is affordable) that I would consider is the 2015 Mustang GT350 (if it comes here).

[b2tf]

What's a "tur-bo" ?

[LoudPipes]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

Its Friday!!

People werent embarrassed to drive V8s again.

You don’t have to be the fastest to be cool.
Some Turboed cars may be earth shattering but I’m old school and proud of it, the V8 rumble forever for me
Throw on a supercharger for enhancement if need be.

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

I don't really see the 4 cylinder turbo cars as a performance alternative, unless you wear a skirt or use it to pick up your boyfriend for a game of mini golf

I have driven a few turbos and have never been impressed.

I remember a mate of mine telling me how devastatingly quick is 'worked' WRX was and one day he convinced me to take it for drive, I took it for a drive and was very unimpressed.

Got him to jump in my 5 speed EL XR8 with a few Herrod enhancements, and he crapped himself, and that XR8 was probably the slowest V8 I have

You think a worked WRX would have trouble with a EL XR8?

[fte50]

It depends on the car and personal preference but I doubt either choice 'converts'.

I mean I wouldn't buy a Lancer V8 over a turbo, as much as I wouldn't buy or restore a classic old school Falcon with a turbo 6 as opposed to v8 .... depends on the car.

[fgpsi]

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

image

*Throws fgpsi up into the air with crowd cheering*

[fgpsi]

Originally Posted by Grippy

I was never embarrassed to drive a V8, Hulk.

Good work, you found the troll line

[chopstar87]

its really depends on the car its self...

If I was looking at a Cruiser... V8 all day.

Performance wise, I love the T6 engine and I really love the F6 and really I don't think I would be interested in the GT, if it didn't have the GT badge. as the performance is simular.

again, if I am looking at Mustang or Challenger.. has to be a V8.

so really.. I am happy with either, it just depends on the car.. hell give me a AMG A45 over a XR8.. but then give me a GT500 or Hellcat over everything!

[Stazza_Brendan]

The Turbo 6 converted me to a Ford man. I was Mitsubishi before.
Only the Supercharged Miami would of converted me if the Turbo 6 never came out.

Im sure the I6T has changed many to the Ford camp.

[StealthAu]

Meh, I've owned boosted 4s and 6s as well as plenty of 8s.
V8s put a smile on my face, even when cruising at low speeds.
Boosted 4s and 6s are equally as boring as na variants until they come onto song.
I guess it all comes down to what you want and how long you want to keep your licence.

[MercurySilver]

cant see myself buying a v8 unless it was something older and really cheap, maybe even a daily on gas
went from ba xr8 ute to g6et
im sold
im over the whole listen to my rumbling v8 thing
but each to their own

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

image

see my sig lol

i also used to be very much a v8 guy, but since the FG version of the entry level spec I6T i've been converted, and love both. Turbo for power, old Windsor for cruising. Obviously the new-school Miamis are for brute power too but it's a totally different experience from N/A V8s of old.

regarding the "listen to me" thing with V8s, i was never about that. In fact the exhaust on my AU is pretty tame, it's about the way it feels under the pedal, the effortless trundling around town etc. The purring on the highway. V8s are visceral.

[supershifty]

Can I fix anyone some sandwiches, nuts or beers? It's gonna be a long ride!

[LG17]

I love turboed V8s!

[82XD393.3v]

always owed V8's till now even spent **** loads on a clevo 393. the f6 i bought only started feeling as quick after a tune but im glad i now have a/c p/s and i can hear the music over the exhaust and my floor pan isnt at 60degs lol

[jmack]

Originally Posted by MercurySilver

cant see myself buying a v8 unless it was something older and really cheap, maybe even a daily on gas
went from ba xr8 ute to g6et
im sold
im over the whole listen to my rumbling v8 thing
but each to their own

Its like listen to my blow off valve mate its fully sick

[Nova 8]

Just add forced induction to your V8.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

image

Proud owner of both: FG turbo sleeper and Boss335GT. FG turbo for adrenaline rush, boss335 for lazy cruise..